Every now and then, two different Hollywood studios get the same idea, and this year two different productions based on the Ancient Greek myth of Hercules have been made. Hercules, directed by Brett Ratner and starring Dwayne Johnson, is the second.

I was assigned to review the film for Nerd Bastards, and despite appearances, I didn’t completely hate the movie. That’s not to say I completely enjoyed it either though. Based on a graphic novel, this Hercules, I felt, had an interesting take on the myth by supposing that the mighty Hercules was a product of hype and myth-building in his own time, and that the 12 Labours were embellished to add to prestige.

Johnson, as always, is a compelling and engaging leading man, and he’s certainly built to play a Greco strong man worthy of myth. He’s also surrounded by a great supporting cast including Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell and John Hurt. Ratner does a decent job directing in his typical workman fashion, but then again I don’t have the unrelenting hate for Ratner that other fanboys do.